Chapter 9: TBD

"Exactly. Don't pull something stupid on us and we won't have to hurt you. Simple as that."

=chuckles slightly=

can't wait to meet the rest of the rebels

(Burk)
=i keep my wrist pointed at him=
Well? Get moving.

=he's shaking, obviously scared, but keeps his hands up and goes over to a staircase, the little area underneath it, like where a closet could be. He motions us over=
"Th-through h-he-here."

Open it.

"It's airight mate, just open the bloody door."
I back up a little bit, waiting for a explosion or something like that.

=puts away the dmr and draws a pistol and loads it=

[u]anytime mr innie[/u[

(Punikav)
=i keep my rifle ready. Explosions were second nature to me, if anything were to happen, I doubt it would hurt me much. The boy opened the door, with nothing happening. It was just a staircase leading down, further into the base I assumed=
Hope, Sanity. You go in first. Pair and I will follow.

=i look at Alphonse and Zeru=
Unless one of you two want the honors.

got nothing else to do

=goes through the door and down the stairs pistol aimed forward-

"I've got the back then.
I unsheathe my sword and wait for the rest to go.

(Punikav)
=i dispense a grenade and set it to a dead-man-distance detonation, and stuff it into the boy's shirt=
If you run away, this will go off. Don't run away.

=he paled instantly and nodded, sitting down against the stairway in disbelief. Burk and Deniv went in behind Zeru, Burk with his shield raised and Deniv with her pistols aimed. I went in next, followed by Simile=

I walk over to the stairs' entrance and stop there, looking at the teenager.
"This is war for you, do you want to keep doing this? Something to think about while you wait."
I walk down the stairs, following the others.

Slipped up there for second. Shouldn't let me Australian accent come out eh? ...dammit

=keeps moving down the stairs keeping an eye on his motion sensor and various items on his hud while keeping one arm close by incase he needs to punch quickly=

(Burk)
=i keep the shield up, and my wrist gun aimed. Nothing was going to get past me if I could help it=

(Deniv)
=i had my forearm shields on, and I held them up above Burk, just so no fire could slip past him and into the rest of us=

=reaches the bottom and see's a door and just kicks it open=

basement floor secrets and possible more rebels,ladies and gentlmen please keep your weapons up as the tour goes on

He seems quite comfortable with all this, making jokes and everything. I guess everyone needs a way to relax during fights.
I sheathe my blade and equip my rifle. Ready for whatever comes my way.

(Burk)
=gunfire erupts, some of it hitting into Zeru, some of it my shield, and some into Deniv's arms. I point my arm and just start firing, taking care to aim away form Zeru. It turns out there are some Autoturrets, just firing on movements=

-picks up the door and uses as a shield=

somone kill them fast

CossakHawk wrote:

Planet Cargento, ONI safehouse, 0830 hours

Jack: I imagine so...some of this stuff must be sophisticated.

Lucas: It is sophisticated, so I recommend that you handle them with extreme care...=gives Jordan a glare=

Jordan: I drop something ONE time, and you won't let it go...

Lucas: That explosive would have worked, had you not been so careless with it...

=Jordan simply raises his hands in mock surrender=

=Lucas then waits as the rest of the team files in to begin handing out the gear=

=Lucas looks at the team=

Lucas: Here's your gear to be used in the following operation...but remember, ONI would really like their gear to be left somewhat intact.

=Jordan rolls his eyes=

Lucas: This day is merely to get aquainted with your cover and the gear...because tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.

=Lucas then walked out of the room, leaving the team to sort themselves out=

I try aiming at the turrets with no avail, I get my shields depleted before I can fire.

(Punikav)
=i launch a smoke grenade, preventing the turrets from getting any sort of fire on us=
Everyone move! Before the smoke clears!

=we all poured out of the stairway. Simile activated her cloak, Deniv recharged her arm shields, and I hit behind Burk as the smoke started to clear. There wasn't much cover, as the turrets were aimed right at the door, and it was a fairly empty room. Alphonse was hiding behind Deniv, and Zeru still had his shield up=
Hope. Do something.

"On it!"

(Burk)
=i took careful aim, knowing that once I fired the turrets would start shooting again. I fired a burst, and the rounds whizzed into the armor of the turret, ripping apart wires and circuit boards. The other turret instantly started shooting at me=
Someone take that one!

=grabs a dagger and tosses it at the turret hitting the barrel disabling it=


turret's down

Once I'm out of the stairway, I look for cover. Nothing. Next procedure, figuring how many enemies there is.
One turret still firing. I aim at it and fire a short burst. Breaking it apart with a small satisfactory explosion.
"Enemy down!"

((Continued from Legacy of the Dragons Teeth))

(Jason)
=It wasn't a long ride aboard the Hyperion, our slip-space drive was so advanced that the trip between Waltari and Haven took less than a half hour. I stood in the hangar when we exited slip-space, and through the entrance of the hangar, I saw Haven below, with our fleet gathered in orbit=

(Sam)
=Seated in the cockpit of the Blacklight, I hailed the Admiral on the com=
Hey, Admiral. You want to hop on? We're good to go.

(Jason)
Got it Sam. On my way.
=I walked over to the dropship behind me, walking up the entry ramp. The rest of Alpha Team was there, seated and secure. Once I was just as secure, Sam lifted off from the hangar, and we left the ship and descended towards the surface=

(Simile)
Does it matter? Let's keep going.

=i deactivate my cloak, and ready up my SMG, keeping it pointed as we move forward, into the base=

"Rebels are not to be underestimated."
I move forward with the woman soldier, hoping to cover her incase of another attack.
I can never remember names...

(Jason)
=We soon arrived at Alpha Base, and got off the drop-ship. Alpha Team and I headed for the debriefing room, where Miranda was bound to be waiting. I had Chris hold onto the GESTR files, mostly because, hey, she was the one that dug them up=

(Conner)
Hmm, usually we waited a day before a debriefing after missions.

(Jason)
I know, but this stuff is too important to wait.
=Turning my head back slightly to look at them=

Sorry. Honestly, I wish we could wait.
=The walk from the landing area to the debriefing room wasn't a long one. I was thankful for the fact that we had created several across the base, to host for either multiple debriefs at once, or to serve as convenient locations to reduce walking distance=

--In the Debriefing Room--

(Miranda)
=When I had heard about the success of Alpha Team, I was relieved at first, until I heard from Jason himself about some intel they picked up, that had him worried. Naturally, that made me worried. I was standing in the debriefing room, over at the podium, and I was not alone in the room. Two other members of Vigil, along with the commanders of the bases, sat within the rows of seats. Jason and Alpha Team walked in, and I noted that they all seemed tired. They were out of their armor at this point, and in standard uniform (a recent edition within the last month for all military personnel)=
Welcome back Alpha Team. Job well done.

(Conner)
=Walking into the room, I found a seat at the front row=
Thank you ma'm.

(Jason)
Chris, if you'd be so kind.
=I made a gesture to the Corporal, and she pulled out her data-pad. Taking it, I walked over to the podium=

Earlier today, Alpha Team and I embarked on our first, off world mission to investigate a signal we discovered two days ago. Originating within the Achernar system, on the planet Waltari, we landed and discovered a base used by Hans and his rebel forces. Upon closer investigation, we discovered a number of things.
=I plugged the data-pad into the podium and several holographic images appeared in mid air=

First, we discovered the official name for Hans and his group, within these files. They're calling themselves, The Reclaimers, taking the name from Forerunner archives. Second, we discovered what the base was being used for.
=I brought up the files for GESTR=

They were using it as the test bed for something they've called, GESTR. Short for Genetically Engineered Shock Troopers, they're quite literally growing an army.
=If Miranda was as surprised as I was when I heard this, she kept her cool better than I did=

I'll forward the details on this project to all of you later, but in short this looks to be the main force of his army. Also, we discovered that there are other production facilities out there, larger than the one we found, and by now are already beginning production of new units. Last of all, we confirmed the face of the Reclaimers military leader, Colonel Harris.
=From there, the meeting went on for another half hour, and I went over the details as were requested of me=

given our current situation yes i'd say it matters since they may have more or something worse

=moves up and grabs a 2nd pistol and draws it having one pistol point forward and the 2nd close by incase of a flank and need for quick reaction shot=

(Punikav)
In these close quarters? They'd end up killing everyone and destroying everything. They wouldn't risk it.

(Jason)
=By the time the meeting was over, everyone but Miranda had filed out, and for the second time in 24 hours, I said the exact same thing=
Deja vu.....

(Miranda)
=I heard him say something, but he must have murmured it, because I couldn't make out what it was=
What?

(Jason)
Huh? Oh, nothing.
=I leaned back against the edge of a table=

Just found it funny how we're back in this scenario again. You and me, alone in the debriefing room, at the end of a debrief.

(Miranda)
=I shot him a mischievous grin=
Why, is that a proposition, Admiral?

(Jason)
=Within the space of half a second, my face turned as red as a beet root=
Uh...as tempting as that sounds, I'm going to have to decline.

(Miranda)
=I shrugged a little, glad to see I could still get that kind of reaction out of him=
Oh well, your loss Jason.

=Adopting a more serious tone, I shifted the conversation=
But really, how are you? This GESTR thing.....

(Jason)
*sigh* Yeah, it's like the ghost of Dragons Teeth is mocking me a little. But despite the initial shock, I'm fine now.
=I took a look at the data-pad she was holding, the same one that Chris had handed me=

I guess you're going to begin extrapolating whatever data you can?

(Miranda)
Yes. My team and I might be able to get something useful, other than GESTR data. Who knows, maybe there are coordinates in here for a Reclaimer base or something....

(Jason)
Or something.....

"Gotta love close quarters..."
I say under my breat but not caring who hears me. I notice Zeru's weapon style and think.
I've seen that somewhere... I think I'll steal that idea.
I equip my sword and my pistol, adopting a sword and gun combat style.

(Miranda)
Something on your mind?

(Jason)
I know that the mission was a success. We got the intel, we know what their up to, and we destroyed their GESTR production facility. But somehow...I feel like we're still one step behind. I mean, more of these facilities? And who knows what else they've got after this much time.

(Burk)
They aren't animals.

=we kept moving, keeping an eye out. The rooms turned into narrow hallways, maybe two people wide. I kept my shield up the whole time, cautious=

(Dormii)
=it was lunch time now. We were all herded into a central area, given our food, and told to eat. All of those in my block were sitting in one corner of the messhall. I was just eating by myself, moving my arm slowly and carefully. Yesterday, the scientists and guards decided to test my ability to stop blood flow. The scientists just cut me open a bit on my arm, a lot more than I thought they should. I screamed like usual, threatened them, but it did no good. They just ignored me, as if I wasn't making a sound despite all my yelling. The guards on the other hand, definitely heard me screaming. They relished it. The beat on my arm, stomped on it, smashed it with batons, everything they could to get me to make a noise. I couldn't fight back, not yet. But I knew, once someone came to get me out, once I had freedom, they would get their payback=

(Miranda)
Whatever they have, we can beat them. They're on their own, no allies to call upon. We have the UNSC, and maybe even Delta, though I doubt he'd want to join in this war at all. And.....I may still have one or two more contacts in the surviving rebel factions that I can call on.
=Noticing the look of confusion on his face, I clarified=

Not the Reclaimers.....the other Rebels. There are still plenty of surviving factions out there, and I know the right people.

(Jason)
Heh, so much for staying neutral.

(Miranda)
I'm not saying we align ourselves with them, but you've already opened the door for civilian refugees to come to the surface. What if we allow their own to come here as well?

(Jason)
It's a thought, but Miri.....we're going to have enough trouble housing these new people. Let's deal with them first, then we'll talk about the Insurrectionists.

The hallway seems a little cramped to me so I wait stop walking for a few seconds, letting Simile get ahead of me.
Then follow behind her, ready for a fight. I'm expecting the unexpected to be honest. Things like dogs, hybrids and mutants, monstrosities.
Whatever they might have I'm ready for it. Accept... I'm not completely here. I keep thinking.
How will this look to the U.N.S.C.? Me purposefully helping the very rogues I was sent to capture? I'll be executed on the spot.

The UNSC Xerxes exited Slipspace near Sanctum IV.
"We have exited Slipspace Captain James."
The Captain nodded. "Head towards the planet. Prepare to drop Priest down."
"Aye Aye."

Xerxes lit up her engines and moved towards the planet. James tapped the seat. From his quick assesment, it wasn't going to be an easy job.
In mid Orbit was the Trophaeum, an 18 mile long vessel that easily dwarfed the lone UNSC Frigate. he almost felt a bit uneasy, looking at it.
Skirting the edges of the massive vessel, James waited until they were around the curve of the planet, towards the forest moon of Endor.
Or, as it seriously was called, Haven.
"Captain?"
Malcolm James turned towards Syana. "Tell Priest to get ready."

________________________

Jeremy was tucked in his bunk, the warm body of his younger sister by his side. Didn't matter that they were two Spartans - personal comfort mattered off-duty.
Then the intercom crackled.
"Priest Team, we're approaching the LZ." came the soft voice of the Xerxes' CIC operator, Syana. "Prepare to launch."
The two rolled out of bed in a flash and were pulling on their specalized MJOLNIR Variant armor. As soon as they were suited up, they swung by the armory, where Rika threw her brother his personalized Sniper Rifle and a MA5C. Slinging them both, Rika slung two Shotguns. Tossing her a sidearm, he holstered his own.
"Ready?"
The pink-highlighted helmet looked up at him. "You know it."
The Quartermaster had barely stood up by the time the two were walking out. And, like a good Marine, he didn't bother asking them to sign for anything.

______________________

In the hanger, the jet-black modified Pelican that the crew had taken to calling the Madrigal was prepped. Trooping on, Jeremy took the pilot's seat as Rika tookher spot standing behind him.
"Requiem to Captain James. Permission to launch."
"Priest Team, clearance granted. We don't know what you'll be facing, so be careful. We don't know when the December is due with 418 and 013. Try not to get in trouble."
"No promises Captain."
James was heard to chuckle softly. "I will have two Pelicans on stand-bye to provide any aid required."
"Load one with guns and the other with a Warthog. Preferably one with missiles."
"Already done."
Smirking, Jeremy hit the thrusters of the Pelican, balancing on a blue-white column of fire.
"Requiem copies."
The dropship launched out of the Xerxes and headed for the planet.
"Requiem has exited the hanger. En-route to plateau LZ. Will call back once we've landed."
"Xerxes actually copies. Good luck."

TheWatchman wrote:

Planet Cargento, ONI safehouse, 0830 hours
Friday, October 20 2552

=Lucas looks at the team=

Lucas: Here's your gear to be used in the following operation...but remember, ONI would really like their gear to be left somewhat intact.

=Jordan rolls his eyes=

Lucas: This day is merely to get aquainted with your cover and the gear...because tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.

=Lucas then walked out of the room, leaving the team to sort themselves out=

=The team gets up, a bit a restless after waking up=

=Lucas arrives to greet the team, seemingly refreshed=

Jordan: (a bit irritated) You seem chipper...

Lucas: I don't have to go out for awhile...or worry about blowing a cover=he grins=

=Kait arrives, clearly out of her element, then Jack arrives with the air of a man who's used to this kind of work=

Jack: Well, my compliments to ONI... this outfit feels like a well worn glove.

=Kait grouses a bit, illiciting a few snickers from Jordan, Jeremy and Alexi=

=Kait shoots a glare at Jordan, who immediately shuts up=

Jack:(consoling) Just relax Kait, it's just for one op...

Kait:(annoyed) I know that...

Jack: Just follow my lead out there...trust me on this.

=Kait silently relents as the team readies for the start of the operation=

(Miranda)
Yeah, okay. I'll check back with you and see if we find anything good.
=With that, I left the room=

(Jason)
=Alone in the room, I still leaned against the edge of the desk, mulling things over. It was going to be another day or two, until the new arrivals from the UNSC arrived. I was going to have to check on the progress of the settlements soon, but I had a feeling they would be done by the time the refugees arrived. Right now, my main priority was....unknown. I really didn't know what else to do now, without any real info to go on=
Might as well head out to the Command Center, check on the status of the scouting ships. Hopefully, they've found something.

Jeremy guided the dropship down through the atmosphere, the black Pelican shaking in the turbulent decent. Smirking, he barrel-rolled the ship, which earned him a cuff on the back of his helmet.
"Show off later. Get to the LZ."
Laughing, Jeremy gunned the engine more, feeding fuel and gaining speed.
"ETA ten minutes Xerxes. After that, where are we headed?"
"Due east towards a settlement. Keep an eye out for Insurrectionist Activity. Xerxes out."

Rolling his eyes, Jeremy tore across the night sky, a mere shadow.

_________________

The Pelican flared out for a landing, he dropship touched down. Powering it down, Jeremy and Rika trooped off, then raised the ramp, sealing it from any prying eyes. Throwing the camouflage net over it, the two slid down the side of the plateau, grappling hooks left and extra ones on their belts.
"So, what did HQ send us for anyways Rika?"
"No clue Jer. Just were sent, Guess we need to be invisible, for the most part."
"And we're going to a city?"
"Could say where there's for an anime convention."
"Out of everything you could say, you go for that?"
"Yep."
Shaking his head ruefully, Jeremy began the long trek to the city.
Of course, having thrown a Mongoose into the back woulda been too hard...
I hate hindsight.

(Conner)
=Alpha Team and I were out at the bar outside the base. I still found it odd how command had authorized the construction of this small little town, but then again, I suppose it's purpose was clear. It wasn't really a settlement for civilians, so much as a place for soldiers on base to cool off and relax a little. The place was monitored closely by MP's and Sentinels on overwatch, but in the brief time it was here there had been no fights. We all sat at our own table, pints sitting in front of us, foam close to the top. I had mine in hand though, and held it over the table a little=

To our first successful mission.
=We all clinked glasses, and drank. The beer wasn't all that bad, made here on Haven by some of the civilians here=

(Deniv)
No idea Zeru. Not like we've been here before.

=i check my motion sensor and see some unknown dots appear=
Everyone stop. We have company. Pair, go check it out. 15 meters to our front.

"On it."

(Simile)
=i activate my cloak and begin moving foward, going at a slow pace to keep my noise to a minimum=

=stops=

this should be good

(Chris)
=The beer had a nice, earthy aroma to it, and it certainly helped keep my mind off the GESTRs. The mere memory of that thing, molten alloy burning into its back.....made me shudder a little in revulsion, though I was able to hide it=
So, any idea what happens next?

(Crowe)
What happens next is that we continue celebrating, then brace ourselves for a hangover.

"Alright."
I stop walking and look behind us. Incase we're being followed or something, but there's nothing.
I look ahead again, waiting for her return and keeping my guard up. I hope something happens before too long, I get bored.

(Conner)
=That made us break out into a laugh that lasted a good minute. Or two=

(Chris)
So, James. You used to be UNSC, right?

(Conner)
=I took another sip of the beer, and cast a glance at Chris=
Yeah? Why do you ask?

(Chris)
Got any old war stories for your team?

(Conner)
=That made me shift uncomfortably=
Yeah, but I don't feel like sharing them. Not all of them are good.

(Simile)
=i made it into a room, it was a large wall of computers and monitors. There were maybe three or four people in the whole room, all of them working on the computers. They didn't seem to be doing much of anything, other than working, and I checked around the room to make sure it wasn't an ambush. I drew my SMG and fired into the air, while also disengaging my cloak=
NOBODY MOVE! UP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTERS NOW!

=i radioed the others as the four people got up slowly, shocked=
Got four people in here. Clear to move up.

Jeremy and Rika snuck in at different spots, with Jeremy entereing through the junkyard and Rika sneaking in through...the dump.
"Next time Jer, we switch."
"We need to figure out how to blend in."
Chortling, Rika continued scaling the building. "Right. And they call you the older brother?"
"I am old." Jeremy retorted.
"Yet I'm a Commander."
"Then go stop the Covenant with a single frigate and stuff, Commander. Go shepard us to victory." Jeremy said, sarcasm dripping as he scaled the stairs of an abandoned building.

The two reached rooftop leven, Jeremy unslinging his rifle as Rika used her HUD's zoom.
"Nothing Innie, nothing UNSC. Sheesh. Nothing is ever easy."
"Nope." he responded to his sister. "I got a good view, but I see a taller building. Looks like the last few top floors are being renovated. Relocating."
"Gotcha." she said. "Gonna move around and keep an eye out for anything.

Priest Team moved out.

___________________

In space, the Xerxes actually hid on Haven, nestling down among the trees of the forest moon. Outside, a single dropship, callsign Aegis, stayed at max range and observed the massive Trophaeum.
"Aegis to Xerxes. All quiet."
Captain James decided to light a cigarette. Unless Aegis was attacked, they had to play the waiting game.

"Oh, that was quick."
I take the lead without noticing while running over to the room Simile is in. Then I notice the four unarmed guys.
"What do we do with them?"

(Deniv)
=we all moved into the room and looked around=
Question them for info I guess. Each one of us takes a different person to question and then figure out what we know?